Before taking the stage to play in front of thousands of fans at Canada Life Place, Mike Boguski made a pit stop.
“There’s no other audience I’d rather be playing for than this audience right now,” said Boguski, the keyboardist for Canadian Music Hall of Famers, Blue Rodeo.
During their 40th anniversary tour across Canada, the music legend has made a habit of stopping in each city to play for those down on their luck.
Saturday, he played for one-hour at the drop-in-centre London Coffee House (LCH) in London, Ont.
“He’s in a stratosphere that’s a little bit different than ours financially and notoriety,” said Henry Morrison, a client at LCH.
“Yet, he’s coming to a place where people are in need, to serve as a pick me up.”
The LCH has a long history of serving a cup of coffee or giving support to men and women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“I like the energy of the people that work here and the energy that sometimes that is produced by the people that come here as well,” added Morrison.
“I also love the socialism. Playing cards, shooting the [expletive] with just random topics coming up that make my brain think.”
Boguski, who had his own struggles with addiction, knows he was close to living on the street.
“If I can just bring an hour of music to people who may not be able to come to tonight’s show, that’s pretty awesome,” said Boguski.
“Recognizing people as human beings with faces is what it’s all about. Everyone loves music. Not everybody can afford a ticket.”
In a makeshift tent at the back of LCH off Hamilton Road in London, Boguski played for around a dozen people.
“Creating accessibility to the arts, to things that bring that sense of joy and hope and, really inspire people through creativity is wonderful,” said Jessica Carswell-John, manager of peer support and social enterprise at LCH.
“We look at like the whole spectrum of wellness. The basic needs like housing, that’s one piece of survival. Then when we can add things like this that really just bring that, sense of meaning and joy and purpose and connection through community is super exciting.”
On this tour, Boguski began playing for local food banks at libraries. However, when he reached Vancouver, B.C., the libraries started demanding more than one month’s notice. That’s when he discovered a street outreach community shelter called Mustard Seed Church.
“I didn’t even know that these places existed,” said Boguski.
“It’s basically spots for the unhoused to come together and have a free community meal and I played for the people. From that point on, there was no where else I wanted to be.”
He plans on continuing playing for the unhoused.
“If I can find somebody who was willing to believe me that I actually am Mike Boguski from Blue Rodeo who wants to play a community shelter, I’ll be playing,” he said.
“If you’re under 40, just google Blue Rodeo. We’re a popular band and I want to play your shelter.”
